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[W4AN]

I have a bunch of the old type phyllistran and some ends that have been cut off.  I'm wondering how to remove the potting compound from the ends without damaging the ends.  I don't think burning it out is a good idea because I believe they are made of aluminum.  Or at least some of the ones I have are aluminum.  Plus I'm not sure I'm wild about the fumes that would be produced.  

Thanks

Bill, W4AN

[N5NJ]

I agree that burning it would not be the best thing to do.  I think you need to drill out the opening that's roghly the diameter of the phylli itself in a drill press and then work at it from the other side with pregressively larger drill bits and perhaps do some picking with some sharp tools to clean the fitting out.  I put the ends on my phylli a long time ago and have no plans to cut or change them.  That epoxy-like stuff is nasty.  Be careful with the drilled out scrap as it'll be real sharp on the edges.

[W4AN]

Thanks for the information Bob.  I don't have a drill press and gee that sounds like a lot of work!    

I'm wondering if there isn't some kind of acid that would work on the hardened compound and not on the aluminum ends?

73

Bill

[KD5ILF]

You might find some solvent that will attack the epoxy but I would think any acid that would attack the epoxy would eat the aluminum also.  You might try sealing one in a metal paint bucket with some lacquer thinner for a while.  You could ask the supplier of the epoxy what will kill it.  They may already have this problem solved for you.  73

[KB9VZS]

Hello Bill

I have no personal experiance with phillystran-however if
the epoxy used is anything like that used in securing the
shaft to a golf club head (I have built and repaired a
few clubs) then a heat gun can be used to soften the
epoxy and the end can be removed-if I remember correctly
a gun that puts out around 300-500 degrees should be sufficient to break the bond. At that temp you should not
do any damage to the aluminum.

Good luck.
73,
Kent E Berglund
KB9VZS/AG